Airiana quickly whirled around and tried to open the door. "HELP! HELP!" she screamed but the door would not budge.
Something started to moan in the corner, but the kids could not see anything, nothing was there. Mark and Zoe held each other tight, squeezing their eyes shut. The moaning became louder and louder until it was a deafening roar.
"Get me out of this place!" Zoe left Mark's arms to help Airiana open the door. Mark joined them and the door swung open and all three kids fell onto the cold gymnasium floor.
Airiana gasped for breath. "I was choking."
"Huh?" Zoe asked her, dazed.
"I couldn't breathe. Something was choking me, but nothing was there!" Airiana turned around and everything looked normal in the storage room. No red lights, no dead body and no noises.
"Oh Air!" breathed Zoe in shock.
"What?" Airiana asked, confused.
"Your neck!" Zoe pulled her hair up and a red mark was across the back of Airiana's neck.
"Something WAS choking you!" Mark exclaimed.
Airiana pulled her hair down tightly around her neck, feeling violated.
Zoe opened the gymnasium door and stepped out in the hallway. "I'm getting out of here."
Mark followed her. His eyes wide in disbelief.
Haylene, the cheer captain and most pretty and popular girl in school approached Airiana with her hands on her hips, holding gold and blue pom poms. She wore a gold and blue cheerleading outfit of their school Pinedale High with her hair on top of her head in a ponytail with a big blue and gold bow. The skirt fell to her knees and the top was neck high complimented with knee high stockings and gold and blue designed shoes. Her five followers stood behind her wearing the same cheerleading outfits and smirking faces. "Well lookie here," Haylene smirked, "Perfect Airiana skipping class."
Airiana groaned and reached behind nervously to touch her sore neck and winced.
"Whatever were you three doing in the gym alone." Haylene lifted her eyebrow suggestively and her minions snickered.
"Man leave us alone twat." Zoe muttered.
"Shut up you blood sucking whore I come here with a proposition."
Zoe lifted an eyebrow and almost laughed at the irony of the insult.
Haylene looked at Airiana. "My girls and I were thinking since your pretty enough and have good enough grades to be on the team that you should replace Elaine."
Airiana coughed, feeling vomit rise up her throat, remembering Elaine's mutilated body. "Isn't it too soon and heartless to be replacing her already?"
"That's just the thing. You won't start until after a month. Especially around homecoming time is when I need you most."
"Air," Zoe said, "You should do it if you want to. You deserve it. Don't let me or the popularity ruse hold you back from doing what you want."
Airiana nodded slowly. "Ok Haylene. I'll do it."
"Perfect!" Haylene flashed her million-wat perfect smile. "I'll see you in a month." She walked down the hall and her minions followed her.
"What a strangeee day." Zoe said, her eyes wide.
"Come on, let's go to the library for the rest of the hour. I want to look something up." Mark said and the girls followed him. He sat down at a computer with the girl's sitting on either side of him and he looked up news articles online. "It's confirmed. Lora's ex-boyfriend's body had no blood in it whatsoever and was found in the weight room. Everyone believes he was murdered but no one knows how or why there's no blood." Mark was looking up news articles on the computer in the library after lunch period.
"Why didn't we hear about it?" Airiana frowned.
"They thought he died from a brain aneurysm from lifting to much but that doesn't explain the lack of blood. The cops believe lost blood bleeding through his nose when the aneurysm happened but there would be a lot more blood than what they found on the scene."
"Drakes a vampire and he wants me." Airiana shuddered at the thought and hugged herself. "I just want to live a normal life."
Zoe gave her a sharp look. "Then live your life Air goddammit, don't let this creep control you or drag your emotions around."
Airiana nodded. "I'm just so scared. What if he comes after you or Mark?" tears welled up in her eyes.
Zoe gave her a tight hug. "Even if something happened to me, I just want you to live your life Air. You are the bestest friend I could ask for. You deserve a good life." Zoe pushed Mark out of the chair and logged onto a dating website.
"OW!" Mark stood up, rubbing his back side looking at Zoe with annoyance.
"Look Air, he's cute, he's blond, he's buff, you should try it." She turned away from the computer and faced Airiana. "What do you say?"
"I hate you," Airiana replied, giggling despite the fear she felt.
"I do too, now come on Air. A date isn't a bad thing, now is it?"
"That's the last thing on my mind!" Airiana laughed and threw her arms around her best friend's neck. "No matter what messed up shit is going on you still are the same ole Zoe."
"That means you will go on a date with someone?" Zoe winked.
"Zoe…"
"Airrrrrr."
"Uh! Fine! Then will you promise to leave me alone?"
Zoe smiled and turned toward the computer. "I knew that you would say that."
"Promise me!"
Zoe sighed mockingly, rolling her eyes. "Fine, I promise,"
"Good," Airiana pouted, "Hopefully Drake won't kill my date."
-----------------------------------------
Brian looked at his wife Alyson who was sitting next to him in bed watching T.V. He turned the T.V. off and pulled her close to him.
"Oh! What's this?" Alyson asked.
"I've been thinking…"
"Yes?"
"Isn't it lonely being an only child?"
"Heck, how would I know?" Alyson giggled, she had five other siblings.
"Well, Airiana needs someone her age at home."
"Well, she has that Zoe kid." Alyson kissed her husband's cheek.
"No, like someone who's a sibling." He poked his wife's nose affectionately.
"What do you mean?" Alyson leaned back squinting at Brian, "You know that I most likely won't get pregnant again and if I do, our baby won't be her age."
"I know, but I was thinking of something like… adoption, or something." Brian nervously bit his lower lip.
"Hmm… I would be okay with it."
"Okay but would you be okay with THIS?"
"With what?" But Alyson's words were smothered with Brian's kisses. She laughed and pushed him away. "I don't think Air is lonely tonight. Our little girl is growing up. On her first date."
Brian frowned. "I wish we knew the guy before letting her go."
"Oh, Brian she never goes on dates or acts like a normal teenager. I do not see the harm. Let her live."
He nodded solemnly. "When do you think we should tell her Aly?"
Alyson fell silent, biting her bottom lip nervously. "It would destroy her life Brian. Everything's she's ever known."
"But aren't we being dishonest? She's grown now, she deserves to know."
"You're her real father no matter what Brian." Alyson put her hand gently on her husband's cheek. "You raised her. You took care of her. Knowing who and what her real father is would be too much stress for any human mind to comprehend." She put her face in Brian's neck, sighing. "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't come and married me and filled that role in her life."
Brian put his arm around his wife and squeezed her gently.
-----------------------------------------
Mike looked across his menu at the angel sitting across from him.
"Take a picture, it lasts longer." Airiana muttered.
Mike quickly stuck his head back in his menu.
Airiana sighed and rolled her eyes. She was surprised that her parents let her go on a date, but then again, she never went on dates. "Hmm… a cheeseburger sounds good."
"Yeah?"
"Uh... yeah."
Mike frowned. "You don't go on dates much, do you?"
"No, in fact, this is my first one."
"WHAT?! A pretty girl like you?!" Mike exclaimed incredulously.
Airiana gave him a dirty look. "My best friend Zoe set it up, okay? I'm not a boy crazy girl."
Mike laughed. "Well Airiana tell me what do you like? That is how dates usually go. Getting to know each other's likes and dislikes."
Airiana frowned. "Well I dislike going on blind dates and being forced to do it."
Mike laughed, "That's obvious. You are sassy and feisty Airiana, I like that about you. You're not afraid to speak your mind."
"Yeahhh..." Airiana's brow furrowed in confusion. There was a man sitting in the back, watching them. When Airiana looked at him, he quickly hid his face behind his menu. He had black hair…
"Are you okay?" Mike asked.
"Yeah,"
"What were you looking at?"
"Uh, nothing, nothing at all, let's eat, I'm starved."
Mike grinned, "Now that's a woman any man likes. Straight to the point. So Airiana you have any siblings?"
"No."
"Oh… how's that like?"
"It sucks."
"Hmm, I have a sister. I think she would like you."
"So, I take it you don't have a girlfriend?"
"No, otherwise I wouldn't be on a date with you. I don't agree with two-timing."
Airiana smiled fondly, "Mike that's very... admirable."
Mike smiled fondly back at her.
Airiana caught a glimpse of the man in the back. He was still watching them. He looks familiar… After supper, Airiana and Mike were walking down the sidewalk that was lit by streetlights. Airiana looked at the stars. "The stars are so far away…" she breathed. Mike smiled down fondly at her. They walked hand in hand down the sidewalk than back again to Mike's parked car.
"Say Airiana, if I asked you to my school's prom would you go with me?" Mike grabbed her other hand in his, squeezing gently.
Airiana smiled. "Wow already asking me to prom?"
Mike chuckled, "I really like you Airiana."
"Please, call me Air. And I would have to get my dad's permission, but I doubt they would mind."
"Air… I like that." Mike stood gazing at Airiana's blue eyes and his eyes glazed over. A wicked look suddenly came into his eyes.
Airiana noticed it and took a step back, fear seizing her heart.
Mike reached out, grabbing her bosom, and squeezed.
"Ow! You bastard! What are you doing?!" She punched him in the shoulder.
"You silly girl, come here." Mike grabbed Airiana's shoulders, pressing her against him.
Airiana saw Drake, hiding in the corner of the alleyway. White balls of light were in his hands. Magic… "Mike stop, this isn't you!"
"What? You are talking nonsense. Of course, this is me can't you feel it?" He pinned her against his car, his erection pressing into her hips.
"Drake's hypnotizing you. Please! Stop!"
"Dra Hypna who?" Mike kissed her lips.
Airiana pushed him away. "No! Mike! Please!" He is going to rape me!
Mike picked her up, throwing her in his car. He climbed on top of Airiana, locking the car doors behind him and started pawing at her clothes ferociously.
Airiana quietly reached behind her, unlocking the door then she elbowed him in the face.
"OW!" Mike covered his eye where she had hit him, sitting up in pain.
Airiana opened the door and rolled out. She ran to where she had last seen Drake in the alleyway.
He was gone.
Mike was still moaning behind her in the car and Airiana quickly ran away, calling Zoe on her cellphone.